Anamorphic worflow

[Vladimir Zharov]

Hey guys, in a couple of days it will be the first time I will be working with anamorphic footage.
How should I work with this kind of RED files in After Effects CS 5.5? I am importing a RED container, drop it into a new composition and it is kinda stretched out vertically. Should I apply any changes to the composition or to the footage itself or should I work in this 'stretched' environment?

P.S. No Nuke or Fusion due to studio's requirements.

Thanks.

[scrimski]

I'd resize the footage inside the comp and work in an square pixel composition or even transcode the red files into something with a square pixel aspect

[Vladimir Zharov]

Thanks, that what I was thinking about, but wasn't sure if it is correct.

[radders]

I'd resize the footage inside the comp and work in an square pixel composition or even transcode the red files into something with a square pixel aspect

Why would you do it that way? I would have done the complete opposite, set the comp pixel aspect ratio to non square and use the stretched view. Otherwise you are working on a comp at double the resolution. That is how I worked with anamorphic PAL footage in AE.

Remember that you will probably have to render the result in the anamorphic ratio so that you can give it back to the editor/DI in the same format that you received.

I haven't worked with AE for about 4 years and I haven't used RED in there natively so I might be way off.

[scrimski]

Why would you do it that way? I would have done the complete opposite, set the comp pixel aspect ratio to non square and use the stretched view.

I don't like working with the stretched view, so that's why I'd resize the footage.

[Vladimir Zharov]

Thank you guys,
I started working in a stretched composition since it appeared not so difficult as I thought.
Conrad, you are correct, I will have to give the shots back to the colorists in the same format I had received it, so not resizing the footage I am saved from unnecessary format changes while giving the shots back.
Thanks again.

[BaryonicMatter]

Won't ticking the 'toggle PAR correction' box at the base of the composition window un-stretch the look of the footage???

[radders]

Won't ticking the 'toggle PAR correction' box at the base of the composition window un-stretch the look of the footage???

Yes, but from what I remember it looks a bit rough.

[ddtddt]

can u add interpret footage 2:! anamorphic aspect ratio, then click PAR.? shows the full pic

[radders]

can u add interpret footage 2:! anamorphic aspect ratio, then click PAR.? shows the full pic

That is how I used to work with anamorphic PAL